With the guys at Road Race Engineering busy working on Project Evo, I thought I'd relay some details on the Cosworth MX1 cams that they'll be installing.
For the uninitiated, cams increase power by improving an engine's volumetric efficiency. Simply put, they allow more air in by increasing how far the valves open (lift), and for how long (duration).
Cosworth has expressly designed the MX1 cams as "drop-in" cams for the 2008 Evo. This means that they offer a meaningful increase in lift and duration but not so extreme that the whole valvetrain has to be upgraded. Provided the stock rev limiter (I think the stock fuel cut is 7,600 rpm) is retained, the MX1 cams can live happily with the stock valve springs and retainers.
Still, compared to stock, the Cosworth MX1 cams have decently higher lift and a chunk more duration. See below:
Peak Lift (mm) Duration at 0.050" Lift (degrees)
Stock Intake 10.2 206
Cosworth MX1 Intake 10.8 222
Stock Exhaust 9.4 204
Cosworth MX1 Exhaust 10.4 219
That's just the tip of the camshaft iceberg. Cosworth engineers Eric Hsu and Tyler Hara gave me a peek behind the Cosworth cam development curtain that I'll share in a subsequent post. Fair warning: it's engine-tech-heavy.
Engineering Editor Jason Kavanagh @ 15,851 miles.
m_thrizzle says:
02:44 PM, 01/23/09
Cool upgrade! Are you going to DIY or have a shop do it?
lazyhater says:
12:52 PM, 01/26/09
They barely like changing oil and brake pads, you think they would install cams?
Jason Kavanagh replied to comment from lazyhater
04:34 PM, 01/26/09
lazyhater, it's more a matter of what's relevant to consumers. The vast majority of people don't work on their own cars. They pay shops for their vehicle maintenance.
As for me personally, I have a lift in my garage. I've done engine swaps, built cars from scratch, swapped cams, you name it. All done at home.